Mom, daughter plead guilty in dad's murder

VICTORVILLE • A woman and her daughter pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2005 murder of the father of the family.

In a surprise move, April Gwen Benitez, 41, of Lucerne Valley, pleaded guilty in Victorville Superior Court to one charge of first-degree murder. She faces 25 years to life in prison.

Her daughter, Justina Marie Perry, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. She faces 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for March 23.

Benitez, Perry and Perry's then-boyfriend, Vincent Schofield, 21, were all charged with murder in the June 30, 2005 killing of Alberto Benitez.

Benitez, Perry and Schofield allegedly plotted to lure Alberto Benitez outside his Lucerne Valley home where Schofield beat him to death with a baseball bat. San Bernardino County Sheriff's investigators said they believe the motive was the trio's dislike for Alberto Benitez because he was reportedly abusive to family members.

Schofield is next scheduled to appear on Feb. 26. His attorney, Daniel Mangan, said Benitez and Perry's pleas do impact Schofield.

Read the full story in Friday's Daily Press. To subscribe to the Daily Press in print or online, call (760) 241-7755 or click here.

Tomoya Shimura may be reached at tshimura@VVDaily-Press.com or (760) 955-5368.